By: Ike Phillip Abiagom
Odozi Ani 1 of Akwukwu Igbo
The Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro has affirmed the jurisdiction of the court to entertain claim on defamation case against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and three other individuals and awarded the sum of N200m against them as aggravated damages in favour of Chief Nelson Agbamuche for defamation delivered on November 11, 2024.
The court sitting in Asaba delivered judgment against Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and three other individuals and awarded N200m to repair Chief Agbamuche’s damaged reputation.
The suit, filed in June 2020,suit no. A/128/2020**, alleged that the defendants made false and defamatory statements against Chief Nelson Agbamuche, claiming he was a front for Senator Peter Nwaboshi and had signed contracts worth N3.5 billion on his behalf. The allegation was intended to damage his character; portray him as deceitful and untrustworthy person.
The presiding judge,Hon. Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro, while delivering judgment on the matter said the defendants committed the libelous offence against Chief Nelson Agbamuche.
“From whatever angle one looks at it, I cannot but hold that the claimant has proved that the said article and its online version of were purely defamatory of the claimant and he has been injured in his person, trade, professional body and is hereby title to damage.”
In determining the value of damage and the cost to repair it, the judge said: “The claimant, apart from being a contractor, a politician, he is also a highly respected Palace Chief, Odozi ani of Akwukwu-Igbo Kingdom and with numerous national and state laurels as evidence shows. It will not be just and right for him to live with a permanent apparent stigma of being an influencer of court cases and judges as if noble judges are his lackeys and protegees.”
The judge observed that the online publications has been in the practice of journalism over the years in Nigeria. “Therefore, the defendants ought not to have allowed themselves witting or wittingly to slide into what is called yellow journalism”.
The court ordered the defendants to remove all defamatory statements from social media platforms. A restraining order was also issued, prohibiting the defendants from making further defamatory statements against Chief Nelson Agbamuche.
Speaking to journalists after the judgement, Chief Nelson Agbamuche, said they have accepted the N200m awarded, saying while the case lasted four years and concluded on November 11, 2024, the online publishers vehemently refused to publish an apology to show they made a mistake, there is no amount of money that can actually assuage the damage done to my good name.